I haven't been able to shoot much lately, so I dug out an old project. My very first railroad video from back in 1995. We got incredible access to CSX's Bone Valley operations in this 45 minute documentary. Hope you enjoy.
One of the coolest things I ever got to do; was to help run empty hoppers from Winston yard to Mulberry. My Grandfather was retiring (1986 ish), and I would regularly go to work with him in the summer or on a Saturdays. This particular day, we were at Winston yard. He dropped me off with one of his engineers, and told him to let me help collect dome empty hoppers. And to let me drive to Mulberry. When you are a 11 year old boy, that grew up in a railroad family, getting to run that SD40 was the best. Very little compares to the feeling of that power at your hands. I miss you Poppa...
First off, stop everything because Danny harmon just uploaded Second off, a 50 MINUTE DISTANT SIGNAL VIDEO? What ever did we do to deserve this? This was well worth the wait good sir. Thank you Edit: Arguably the best Distamt Signal video ever produced.
My Dad worked for CSX 35 yrs. so you can figure I'd picked up quite a bit of railroad knowledge. Yeah Danny knows his stuff. Well enough to take me back to yesterday years with Dad. Thanks Danny.
Don’t blame the blind guy. LOL. I may be legally blind but I definitely made sure to hit the like button. I do agree though I’m not sure who could dislike it.
I think the narration on this one is modern. The "same train, but a decade later" footage in 2005 tells me it wasnt 1995 narration, and the beginning exposution of "Ive been working on this for the past week" suggests that there might have been some modern work put into this. Either way, Danny sounds great.
@@railfanlynx I think the closest I ever got to a cab ride was 1972 when my uncle took me down to the old Union Station and train shed. They used EMD SW1500s switchers for switching cars and delivery to local industry. They showed me around that type of locomotive.
The way it was: Had to hop in a plane or a helicopter for those aerial shots! Thanks for generously digging out one of your DVDs for us to enjoy, documentaries is something I'd love to get into.
Hello Danny. You are probably already aware of this, but here goes just in case. In the December issue of Model Railroader there is an excellent article by Alex Marchand regarding his second Bone Valley layout, which is beautifully executed and incorporates some very advanced thinking. Towards the end of the article Alex expresses his gratitude for the inspiration you have provided over the years. The credit is well deserved. Railfans and modelers alike thank you!
My Dad J.W. Keen worked 42 years for the railroad. He had done it all. Bone valley, Palmdale, Clewiston. He passed in Aug 2018. He had some great story's. Thanks for the videos DS
I kinda wanna go on a cab ride after seeing a video like this. Of what it was like pre 9/11 where you could go almost anywhere and talk to almost anybody. Also nice to hear all the older k5las csx had back then. I still hear a few of them occassionally on the line out here.
This is how the past keeps going. The old timers keep information going and you tube is helping. With it you can go back in history where you want or just keep up with now. It'll will always be interesting. Realise that not everything will be shown, believe me it sucks. Us older ones can see what's missing.
Even though we live in Florida, my wife and I had no idea what Bone Valley was and is all about. This is a fascinating and historic video. Thanks so much for putting it together for us Danny!
The first production you ever made, and it's every bit as good as the ones you produce today! I can live with standard definition video when we're granted inside looks into operations in this much detail. Thanks for posting this!
These older videos are so nice to see in a world of Gevos. Seeing this footage and then watching your modern videos provide a great before and after perspective, and as a railroader, it's neat to see how men and equipment have changed over time. Please keep sharing this stuff when you dig it up!
If anyone says Distant Signal’s videos are bad, shame on them. Danny’s videos are excellent. He’s one of the best railfanners out there. And by far my favorite one. Keep up the legendary work, Danny.
Awee helllll yeah 45 minutes of classic goodness!!! Woah this is a ton of ads lol no biggie. I used to go fishing in Ft Meade back in 2004 when hurricane Charlie hit. A whole train of flip tops were derailed just north of Ft Meade. I had pics and videos albeit it was a 9 year old me doing the camera work so not the best but unfortunately hurricane Ike in Houston 2008 flooded my beloved work away along with a cab tour of an EMD Demo scheme CSX SD70M at Mulberry yard. Try this type of tour post 9/11 and it'll get you placed on a watch list lmao
@@AttallaRailFan you're right, those were indeed SD70M's, I'll correct it. Yeah I remember sleeping in at George Jenkins High in Lakeland while our trailer park was being repaired. That was a tough time for a 9 year old like me lol and Mulberry yard was a great time, there was still Leslie horns on those old YN2 EMD's, brand new YN3 paints, I remember seeing the brand new (04-05) Chevy hi-rail trucks in the yard as well, man I wish I still had all that footage. The cab tour I invited myself on was a memory I'll never forget.
As a former RailCrew Express driver working out the the Winston Yard, I've been in most of those plants and yards that still exist. Great Video! You're right. Not many people can get into those places anymore. I've always enjoyed all of your videos. The video quality was very good for being around 25 years old.
Its more since 2010 we lost access of everything. Was I was 7-8 year old back in 2006 - 2007, I got a few runs in the locomotives. Something I will always remember.
I was allowed to get in the cab of a Dash-8 something (I think) back in 06. A gondola and box car had derailed and the train was stopped. The engineer invited us up and the year after that was when the hammer came down on doing that. Sad they don’t let us keep doing that. I’m sure they would have a lot more interest in the railroad and an abundance of a potential employee pool if they let people do the stuff they used to. But us true rail fans will never give up filming
Yeah. Union Pacific threw up an embankment around their yard in Altoona, WI in the last few years so it's impossible to see what's going on at the other side of the yard if there's traffic blocking it. A shame, because they almost always seemed to have at least one Southern Pacific AC44 >< I think they added the embankment to try and help with reducing sound in the residential areas nearby.
Outstanding piece you put together, i thoroughly enjoyed it even though it took me 2 days to finish 😉. This era in particular is special to me. Speaking of cool weather- 70s for highs this week on the east side of FL - tickled pink about it. Cant wait to see what you crank out soon.
I can't wait to hit "play"! Almost an hour? Gotta go get popcorn! (After 50 minutes) I must say.....This video has answered all of my questions about the Bone Valley. Every question I've asked in the past about it and a whole lot of other stuff like any hump yards in Florida to how phosphate is harvested along with bones that have been found and displayed in the museum have been answered in this video. Very well done and I enjoyed it so much that I plan on watching it several more times. Thank you Danny for a thorough explanation of this subject. My armchair rail fanning of the bone valley is complete.
Thanks for the GREAT video! I just rode down from Lakeland, through Bartow, Fort Meade, and met up with a train heading into South Fort Meade mine today. The draglines have marched their way out of Polk County since this video was completed and Ridgewood and New Wales are still busily pumping out phosphate. Some processing plants have gotten bigger (New Wales is a small city at night) and the holes where they're getting the rock are growing further apart. Green Bay and Pierce are no more than some tracks and a switch or two. No sign of any industry there anymore. Agricola is now a storage track for covered hoppers. Interestingly, CSX was storing auto racks on the Agricola line during the recent shutdown of all the automakers. Interesting to see them there! The diamond at Bradley now has a signal, although it was installed when traffic merited the added convenience. Hookers Prairie was shut down many years ago, but there are still some lights on at night. Maybe still dismantling? Not sure, and as you eluded, I doubt you want to "go exploring" in today's climate. Areas that once looked like a war zone just a few years ago are now home to thriving orange groves and some of the places where you shot video can't hardly be seen due to the growth over the years. It would be VERY interesting if you were to consider doing an update video, highlighting some of the spots you mentioned in this video. Four Points and Agrock are still interesting spots as well, down on the south end of the Bone Valley. Thanks again for the video. Hope to see you alongside the rails one day!
Danny this may have been your first video that you made, I have enjoyed this one the most of all, you showed us a different side of this industry that has a lot of different aspects, from raw materials all the way to finishing and ready to be shipped out👍👍👍👍👍
I'm no a railroad man but worked on drilling rigs for 18 years. Same way though with the safety, it used to be more lax and forever injuries. Now with more safety is more injuries. Funny how that works!!
This and the Tropicana Juice Train VHS tape were a big part of my childhood for learning about railroading in Florida (aside from the annual family vacations to Florida where limited train watching was done)
Danny, amazing footage from 25 years ago. Hard to believe how things have changed. The footage you shot as "fan work" is now "historic". Keep up the great work.
Thank-you distant productions. Not to diminish quality. I have waited a long time. Son of a merchant marine son of an post war vet and god bless the usa!
I feel like CSX has become more of a functional railway company than the other haulers. No heritage liveries, no cabbing, etc. Since 9/11 security has been greatly increased - not nessicarily a bad thing, but limits the freedom we have with trains. Loved the video, always enjoy 90s videos like this. Especially like the SP, which would have still been a thing around the time of this recording, albiet on its' last legs. Greetings from across the pond!
This Danny is not bad, ITS A GEM, even a lost era as far as railfans like myself are concerned because this was gone by the time I started filming trains
Just watched this terrific video - so satisfying on so many levels: camera work with interesting angles, and the very informative superb narration. ''Danny's rail videos - Often copied, never equalled''
I know this was posted 9 months ago but I still wanna say that this looks SO DAMN PROFESSIONAL, like I would imagine watching and listening to this on like pbs or discovery channel, and for 480p this looks excellent
It’s nice that more and more “rail fan” channels coming on line everyday but none have come close to your channel for quality in every category. Image and sound quality, editing, sound mixing, graphics and editorial. Yours is as good as it gets! Thank you for your labors and please keep up the excellent work!
You're an expert at your video craft and obviously an expert on Florida railroads. As a transplant from the north, I find your videos to be chuck full of new, fascinating information about CSX and FEC operations. I especially enjoyed these two long-format documentaries you re-posted.
I stumbled upon this video and I grew up in this area during the time it was filmed. It brought back many memories of places that are not around anymore. If you have never sat on South Road 37 in Bradley, FL for what seemed like forever while a train crossed, well at the time it wasn't fun but this video brought back some good memories from the past.
First time I ever seen that one. I sure learn a lot about what you been talking about. It all make sense now. Not being from Florida not use to some of that jargon. I wish I had seen that video first. But sometime somethings aren't meant to be learn yet till later. Thanks for showing that one. A great history lesson from someone from Kentucky. Coal country.
Danny said you posted this video on the old operations in the bone valley I think I have watched it four times. I am just fascinated by it. Love you work love your narration you're one of the most interesting videographers and narrators in the railroad video business. Thanks for doing these, and thanks for letting us look back.
Danny Harmon (forgive me if I misspelled your last name), I appreciate all your videos and it gives me joy learning everything about local railroad lines. I hope after this COVID-19 pandemic all of us railfans can meet up at Folkston again.
Danny Harmon has rekindled the interest I've had for trains since I was a young man - we went to a nearby town 6 miles away - BNSF runs thru there and has a freight and passenger station - I took pictures and got info from their info board - we will be making a trip by train soon. Probably our next vacation. Last time I rode on a passenger train, I was 5 years old. Not waiting any longer. :) Thank you Danny Harmon !
I was just 8 and living in Plant City when this came out. I was always fascinated with the phosphate mines in and around Mulberry, it was all just seemed so big, important, and...industrial. A far cry from what even residents think of when they think of Florida. Funny story, when I passed by the old Farmland plant one time, it never occurred to me it was a phosphate facility. I always thought Farmland was just a pork processor. I think if I had this video back in the day, I would have worn out the tape learning about and seeing at least the logistics of the phosphate industry, from no less than the voice of Channel 13.
Distant Signal You do some of the most exciting videos at the Bone yard And your very lucky that CSX let you aboard lucky you Dan Your video's I really enjoy ..thanks for sharing one of your older videos ....And I hope you and your family and friends are staying safe I hope and pray That this virus goes away Have a Blessed Evening👍
I lived in Orlando druing the early 70s and traveled on US Govt. business to many of those little podunk towns on a monthly basis. I sat for hours at crossings. I probably saw some of those cars and locos at one time or another. I grew up in Floridas panhandle (Pensacola) and had kin in Mobile, AL. As you know, that was L&N country. Grampa was a L&N section master, and two uncles were also working the L&N, one as a brakeman and the other as an engineer. A neighbor was a yard hostler and another was an accountant in the business office. We had a small amount of activity from the Frisco in Pensacola, but L&N was king. As you might guess, I've been a train watcher for many of my 72 years. It has changed over the years. Mostly but not all for the better. One thing I'd the same: the romance of the railroad and hearing that lonely sound of a whistle atop an old steam loco. (Yes, I saw them!!!)
This was a phenomenal video from start to finish, and more than just a good train video just showcasing the trains, but telling a compelling story, that of the enormous, lucrative phosphate fertilizer business in the Bone Valley and the important part that CSX played in transporting that Fertilizer from mine to plant to port. Well done again Danny and Bravo!
Man, that access back then to the trains and yards is incredible! I feel I've grown up in the wrong time period, really wish I was around then to experience things like that! Sometimes, the future doesn't seem bright in railroading with yards closing down or lines left abandoned, but it is cool to reminisce the past and educate those on railroading history!
Thank you Danny. Glad to see/hear that you and yours are doing well. Your 'pre-9/11' comment kind of stabs me in the heart. America was a lot more trusting and free back then. OTOH, even now the trains still run which is one positive constant. God bless y'all.
I work 10 hour days and as long as nothing breaks I have a lot of free time. Today I watched about a dozen of your videos and learned about trains. Thank you! Cool stuff.
This video easily made my day, if there's more of this older footage laying around I know myself and quite a few others would love to see it. Keep up the great videos Danny!
Thank you, Danny, for resurrecting this gem. CSX was a kaleidoscope of different paint schemes and even though the YN2 was becoming more commonplace, you could also see various schemes from the predecessor lines as well. Something else interesting of note. Ditch lights have just become widespread here in the U.S..
I've only been on one freight train in my life. It was late at night in Central Texas and a Union Pacific manifest was stopped for a crew change. The leader of the train was UP 2001, the Olympic Unit. The conductor came off the train, and let my dad, brother, and I get up on the side of the engine, but when we tried to grab a picture, the camera was dead. I still have the memory though, which is all that matters.
Well, I'm coming to this 2 1/2 years later, but what great work! Informative, historical, so much great information about how this kind of railroading works. My hat's off to you again Danny, thanks for digging this stuff out of your archive and making such a fabulous presentation.
Just when I thought it was going to be a boring Friday afternoon, I watched this amazing video about The Bone Valley. I was surprised you didn't mention anything about the Uranium they extract during the process.
I used to live in Lakeland (mid '70s-early '80s). I only saw the mines from a distance, so this was a treat to see what goes (went) on. And seeing the trains, even riding in the cab, made my heart happy. I grew up beside the old N&W RR (now NS), right where they would drop cars with supplies for the highway department. I moved away in 1962, but I still watch every train I can. I have made several cross-country trips on Amtrak, and that's the best way to travel. I drove a semi coast-to-coast (1976-1990) and used to love watching the very long trains out west. Finding your videos has enriched my life immeasurably.
Great video all around! The camera angles really captured the size of the locomotives and cars. I thought the sound quality was good too, hearing the cars rumble as they go by, the slack taken off the couplers, etc. I think this was my favorite video yet. Keep up the good work!
I lived in Bone valley as a kid, went to J.S.Robinson elementary and Turkey Creek H.S. was and old 2 story brick building. I ran a lot of those tails around Valrico with a fishing pole and a .22LR. Thanks for the memories.
Great video Danny. Its hard to notice any diminished video quality when you put together such a nicely produced show. Always enjoy them. Keep em coming please! Thanks
I don't know how anyone can live in SE USA without being sous vide alive by that crazy moist heat. Thank you for your work out in that awful murderous heat
You see a new Distant Signal upload you stop what you're doing and watch it. Once again, great time with you in PC. I got my end uploaded and hopefully I'll see you again.
I thought for sure by "seat of his pants" skill that it meant he was doing all of that loading fully manually. What a pain in the rear I had initially said to myself! Pacesetter is definitely a blessing though in this case, though the version he was using was a lot more primitive than what BN had on their coal sets.
Im just getting off work and I would usually be in bed sleeping but I gotta watch this. I never really paid attention to the bone valley but it now has my full attention.
Dan, I've been getting turned on to your videos over the last year or so and have been watching as many of them as I can possibly get in. Just love your videos and narratives, especially this Bone Valley edition. Have you ever thought of publishing a book, probably soft cover, on some of your videos? This one would make an excellent book with the maps, pictures, your narrative and all the information you put in the videos. I think it would be a great thing to do and I would certainly read it over and over again. I am going to watch this video again as well. It was one of the best. Keep up the great work and I am looking forward to more of you Distant Signal videos. Thanks, Dale
19:30 even in the 90's CSX had selectors on their EMDs! I believe that's part of what caused that "Crazy 8's" runaway... the engineer didn't engage the dynamic brakes correctly using the selector. Those beasts are totally different now that they transition automatically!
